DSS/APC bribe face-off: Who blinks first?

Precisely on August 14, 2014, the blunt and fearless Media Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Marilyn Ogar shocked Nigerians with the stunning revelation that politicians of a particular “political party” offered N14million to two top officials of the secret intelligence service to sway the just concluded Osun gubernatorial election in favour the party.
The DSS spokesperson told puzzled media representatives, during a weekly press briefing held at the National Security Information Centre, Abuja, that a director of the DSS, an operative on election duty in Osun was offered N4million and N10million for another superior officer to enable them sway the electorate or turn the results in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
When Ogar made the accusation, she deliberately refused to call the concerned party by name but her constant allusions to the desperation of officials of the opposition party and the unfolding altercation between the secret service and the APC left nobody in doubt about which party was responsible for the alleged infringement.
Before the latest dispute, Ogar had engaged politicians in verbal attacks over their desperation and eagerness to drag security agencies, especially the DSS, into politics warning that doing so would not augur well for the country.
The tempo of the misunderstanding between the opposition APC and the DSS has since deepened with public opinion shifting against the DSS for employing double standards in its methods and dealings with politicians and political parties.
Since Marilyn Ogar threw the bribe “bomb” into the charged political atmosphere, Nigerians have derided the motive of the disclosure, which was intended to bring applause to the service. Many commentators have said that as positive as the disclosure may have been it has inadvertently backfired because of the way it was handled and the matter has instead placed the DSS and its officials on the negative spotlight.
Some observers of the unfolding drama have even claimed that the alleged bribe was either cooked up by the DSS officials to spit the opposition or that even if it was true, the money was rejected because the operatives feared a likely backlash should the deal leak knowing that trading with politicians can sometimes become a bad, dangerous business.
Marilyn Ogar literarily celebrated the fact that the All Progressives Congress (APC) incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola was declared winner of the election reasoning that since the alleged bribe was calculated as an inducement to influence security men to change or alter the outcome of the election, when the APC feared that it would lose the polls, the DSS would have been blamed if PDP had won.
“We thank God that APC won the election in Osun State. There was no bomb blast because there were enough security personnel on ground. The security forces that assisted in the election in Edo State were the same ones that went to Ondo, Anambra and Ekiti,” Marilyn said.
Explaining that the director who was approached by the politician, was an officer in charge of coordinating election duties in Osun, the DSS spokesperson  said only promises of N4 million and N10 million each were made but that no money actually exchanged hands or were brought to the scene of the meeting with officials of the agency.
She however remarked that, “It is because the money was declined, that is why the political party is presently having a running battle with the DSS. Thank God the APC won the election. Its loss would have been blamed on the DSS,” the officer said and thereafter, many members of the APC have been questioned by the DSS on events related to the election especially the bribe scandal.
The security officer, in justifying the crackdown, condemned the alleged attempt by politicians to bribe DSS officials describing the action as, “a waste of time and an effort in futility.” She stressed that DSS operatives were properly trained, well paid professionals who would not compromise values and the ethics of their profession by collecting bribes.
“We are well paid. I will say it categorically that our operations are well funded. The N14 million that was offered cannot be compared to the N200 million that was spent by the DSS. Which one will you go for, if you were an operative? People should stop using money to entice security agencies. The Federal Government and the people of Nigeria who engaged us have the capability to take care of us.
“I want to tell you that there is a big man occupying a very sensitive position in Osun State. The man should thank his God that it is not the DSS that arrested him with the huge sums of money he was found with,” Ogar remarked even though she could not explain whether the big man was the person who offered the DSS operatives the bribe.
Ogar was however forceful when she said: “I am emphatically repeating my call that politicians should leave the agency and other security organs out of politics,” explaining further that DSS officers on election security duties and related operations are usually paid their allowances and other sundry entitlements in advance to insulate or prevent them from every form of gratifications.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) refused to be intimidated and promptly launched an attack on Marilyn Ogar as well as the Department of State Service over the bribe allegations especially when the DSS quizzed some of its officials for questioning and demanded the resignation or reassignment of the media director.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who had some personal axe to grind with the agency, described the allegation as baseless even as he challenged Ogar and the agency to back the accusations with “evidence, knowledge and facts.”
The party also promptly went to court to seek injunction restraining the DSS from further arrests or harassment of its officials in a desperate attempt to clear its name.
APC did not mince words in describing the accusation that the party proposed to give DSS officers N14 million bribe as “lies and cheap blackmail by a conspiratorial organisation,” querying why the person who made the offer was not arrested by the DSS.
Continuing, the APC said: “Apparently, Ogar has never heard of a ‘sting operation’ that is widely used by security agencies to catch a person who is committing a crime. The allegation by Ogar would have been sweet in her mouth had the DSS mounted a sting operation to catch whoever was offering the alleged bribe, and then prosecute him or her.’’
The party also advised Ogar and the entire DSS to hide their guns, facial coverings and their preferences when next they are posted to provide security during elections in any part of the country, adding that elections are not war but a celebration of democracy.
APC said: “It is sad that a spokesperson of the DSS does not know that there is no offence called ‘loitering’ under the Nigerian laws. For Ogar to claim on national television that the APC National Publicity Secretary and other officials were arrested for ‘loitering’ in Oshogbo on the eve of the governorship election is the height of ignorance and constitutes a great embarrassment to the DSS.
“It is even worse that the so-called spokesperson made a joke out of such a faux pas by an agency that is supposed to be non-partisan. How can a spokesperson of a sensitive government agency not understand that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for freedom of movement?
“On what basis did Ogar question what the APC National Publicity Secretary or any of its officials doing in Osun, when the same fellow has not questioned the presence of Musiliu Obanikoro, Chris Uba and others who came to the state or are these people above the laws?,” the party queried.
Meanwhile, politicians who commented on the face-off blamed the DSS for being too hasty and uncompromising in reacting to the actions of opposition parties as opposed to when it relates with members of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].
A public commentator and politician, Chief Winston Odumu-Ojobi who spoke first said: “it is unfortunate for the DSS to have made the bribe allegation. The agency should not act in a way that would make the public think it is supporting the ruling party or helping to heat up the political space.
Chief Odumu–Ojobi who is the former Deputy National Chairman [North] of the United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP) remarked that: “The bribe allegation should not have happened. It is unwarranted and uncalled for and everyone, including the security agencies should help the Osun election winner [Governor Rauf Aregbesola] and Osun state settle down in peace to governance.
Odumu–Ojobi argued that since “the PDP and Mr. President have congratulated the winner, what any sensible politician or security organisation should do now is to sheath their swords and concentrate on how to defeat the insurgents decimating the northeast part of the country instead of brewing unnecessary controversies.”
National Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties [CNPP], Chief Willy Ezeugwu, on his part said: “The CNPP does not have any position on the matter since we do not belong to the APC. Talking personally however, I think the controversy is simply unnecessary although I do not have the full details of the matter and what really took place that the DSS was complaining about.”
Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council [IPAC], Dr. Tanko Yunusa who was the Vice Presidential Candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2011 presidential election advised the DSS not to bring itself to ridicule by openly supporting the ruling party in elections or dragging itself into unnecessary controversies that may sway public opinion against the agency.
He said the opposition political parties and other Nigerians are also entitled to the protection that the DSS offers appealing that the agency should equally provide proper security cover that are governed by the same rules which apply to the government, the PDP and their officers to enable the security agency come out clean always without appearing to be partisan or biased in its actions.

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Court Dismisses N10 Million Bribe Allegation Against EFCC

Lagos — A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday dismissed a N10 million bribe allegation against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by a foreign exchange trader, Chinedu Chimelue Eze-Akudo.
The trader had in a fundamental rights enforcement suit, which he filed before the court against the EFCC, alleged that operatives of the commission demanded N10 million as bribe from him before he could be granted administrative bail.
However, Justice Okon Abang, while delivering judgment in the suit, discountenanced the allegation on the ground that no evidence was adduced to prove the said allegation.
Abang also said that the EFCC committed no crime in arresting the applicant (Eze-Akudo).
The judge held that from the processes before him, it was evident that the EFCC granted the applicant administrative bail, but he could not meet the conditions attached to the said bail.
According to the judge, the fundamental rights enforcement application filed by the applicant was incompetent in that the EFCC was not in breach of the fundamental rights of the applicant, and so the agency could not be held liable of any breach in the performance of its statutory duties.
Abang dismissed the suit and awarded N15,000 cost in favour of the EFCC against the applicant.
The applicant, who is still in custody, was arrested on May 4, 2014 for allegedly committing economic crimes to the tune of N17 million.
The petition that led to the arrest of the applicant was written by Unity Bank over alleged funds transfer fraud.

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Protest in Bayelsa As Policeman Hits Pregnant Woman Over Alleged N50 Bribe

enagoa — Operators of commercial tricycle in Bayelsa State, popularly known as Keke Napep, yesterday staged a protest against alleged excessive use of force and extortion by policemen along the streets and highways. They also said a pregnant woman was assaulted by a police inspector along the Azikoro way in the state.
The police inspector, whose identity is still unknown, was reported to have use the butt of his official rifle to hit the pregnant woman while trying to hit a Keke Napep driver who had refused to part with a N50 bribe.
While some senior officials of the Azikoro Divisional Police Headquarters described the action of the police inspector as
"careless" and denied the alleged use of the butt of the rifle, the irate protesters claimed the action of the policeman led to excessive bleeding of the pregnant women from the mouth.
The pregnant woman, according to the protesters, had been rushed to a private hospital known as Glory Land Hospital. A police source claimed a scan had been conducted which pronounced her and the pregnancy okay.
It was gathered that the attempt by the protesters to barricade the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) along the Azikoro Road was thwarted by armed policemen who shot teargas into the crowd.
One of the protesting Keke Napep drivers, Kingsley Okubo, told The Guardian that the activities of policemen at check-points during the day and at night are unbecoming.
He said: "This is a small state but the amount paid as bribe to policemen is exorbitant and fearful. Can you imagine we pay as much as N600 daily. It is wrong and criminal.
"Most of our passengers are being embarrassed by these policemen at night. They extort us and some of the passengers. They call everyone criminal even while they know that some of them are just going to clubs or bars for relaxation. It is wrong and not speaking well about night life in the state."
Contacted on the development, the spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said though he had been briefed, "the command will investigate the incident."

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Corruption in Nigeria

opinion

"I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet"
Mahatma Ghandhi
The parable of the wise and foolish builder as illustrated by Jesus in the Bible (Matthew 7: 24-27 and Luke 6: 46-49) is a complete similitude of events in Nigeria Jesus while emphasising the need to put His teaching into practice used this illustration and he emphasised the need to build the house on the rock and not on the sand. The house built on the rock can withstand the rain wind and flood, but on the contrary, the house built on the sand was swept away very easily when rain, wind and flood came calling.
Let's call a spade a spade; the level of corruption in Nigeria is astronomical. Corruption runs in the blood of most Nigerians and they are ready to participate in corruption at the earliest blast of the whistle. Nigeria is a house built on the sand of corruption, but regrettably its people expect it to withstand the calamities and afflictions that go with such quest.
Many Nigerians will profess several verbiages to convince themselves that they are not part of the Nigerian corruption. They convince themselves that things are not what they are and expunge fallacious claims to support every corrupt practise. The fact remains that Nigeria is corrupt by default.
Irrespective of what you convince yourself to belief, the fact cannot be erased. Nigerians live, dine and wine in corruption and these corruptions run from the leaders to the common man on the streets. The leaders steal and share the big money, while the rest steal and share the money left. You can hide the fire that is burning, but you can't hide the smoke. The smoke is everywhere, nothing gets done except bribe changes hands. Ask for a little favour without throwing a bribe, then consider the job best ignored.
Everywhere you go is the same from the public sector to private institutions, everyone readily participates in bribery. I cannot overemphasis the fact that we all need a radical change in our ways. Let's call a spade a spade, we cannot continue to live this way and expect to get a sudden transformation. Life is only a miracle to those who obey the rules. You cannot live your life anyhow and expect to get a worthwhile result out of it. Until we all stamp out corruption, yes every one of us, Nigeria may not yet be ready.
We need determination and discipline to live corruption free life. Bribery and corruption have become part of our culture and way of life. We are so much enmeshed in it that it ceases to make any difference to us anymore. Corruption is now normal. If you can't beat them, you better join them, they say, but must we live our lives this way? Nigeria has reached the climax of corruption; you either play by the rule or get sucked in forever. You are not allowed to say no to bribery and corruption, if you do, you may get cut down in their wheel of scandals.
This unfortunate predicament has got to a very dangerous level such that it now runs in every sector of the economy, from judiciary to legislature, executive to business, religion to education, health to power generation and many more. Nothing works on merit in Nigeria; you either pay for it or lose out on it. It's sad, really sad. How can we continue to live our lives this way?
Let's join hands to say no to corruption. Let all Nigerians play their part in stamping out this deadly practice. We cannot be free if we continue to sell our conscience for money. Edmund Burke wrote; "among a people generally corrupt, liberty cannot long exist." We need to come together and say no to corruption in Nigeria, which is the only way forward.

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Anti-corruption Groups want SSS Spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar interrogated over N14 million bribery allegation

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, has demanded an immediate investigation into the claims that operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, were offered N14 million during the just concluded Osun gubernatorial election.

The group, a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organizations, said that the act is an offence punishable under the corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In a petition dated August 18, 2014, and addressed to the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, the group demanded that the SSS Spokesperson be invited for questioning.

Marilyn Ogar, the SSS Spokesperson, had, last week, accused an unnamed political party of attempting to bribe two of the agency’s operatives with N14 million to help them subvert the electoral process.

The SSS Spokesperson had also angered civil society activists after she blamed the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the spate of bombings across Nigeria.

“Last week Thursday, 14th August 2014, marks a turning point in the operation, perception and integrity of Nigeria’s security agencies, with the highly controversial assertions of the loquacious Director of the State Security Service,” the anti-corruption group stated in the petition signed by Olanrewaju Suraju, its Chairman.

“In the condemnable practice of conducting intelligence operations in the public space, the SSS Director has severally exposed the agency to public opprobrium with her gaffe and politicization of serious security issues in the country. This obviously, is antithetical to the primary responsibilities of the agency.

“At a media presentation, convened to review the role of security personnels in the just concluded August 9 gubernatorial election in Osun State, Ms. Ogar ignominiously descended into the political arena with jab of several allegations against the opposition party, an act reminiscence of the country’s unethical political parties tantrum throwing,” Mr. Suraju added.

In their petition, CSNAC stated that Section 9 of the ICPC Act stipulates a seven year imprisonment for any person found guilty of bribing or attempting to bribe a public officer.

“According to Section 9 of the Act; Any person who corruptly – (a) gives, confers or procure any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public officer or to, on or for any other person; or (b) promises or offer to give, confers, procures or attempts to procure any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public officer or any other person, on account of any such act, omission, favour or disfavor to be done or shown by the public officer is guilty of an Offence of official corruption and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for seven (7) years,” the petition read.

“In the light of the above provisions in Section 9(a) and (b) above, a prima facie case of offer and inducement attempt can be established.

It is therefore the demand of this organisation that your commission, as a matter urgency, invite Ms. Marilyn Ogar for necessary interrogation, to identify the personalities behind the self-confessed bribe offer.

“Under the Act in reference, failure to report this case to an officer of the Commission or Police Offer is already an Offence; Section 23 (1) any public offer to whom any gratification is given, promised or offered in contravention of any provision of this Act, shall report such gift, promise or offer, together with the name, if known, of the person who gave, promised or offered such gratification to him to the nearest officer of the Commission or a Police Officer. (3) Any person who fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with subsection (1) and (2) shall be guilty of an Offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand Naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two (2) years or to both fine and imprisonment,”
the petition added.

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The Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, has demanded an immediate investigation into the claims that operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, were offered N14 million during the just concluded Osun gubernatorial election.
The group, a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organizations, said that the act is an offence punishable under the corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
In a petition dated August 18, 2014, and addressed to the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, the group demanded that the SSS Spokesperson be invited for questioning.
Marilyn Ogar, the SSS Spokesperson, had, last week, accused an unnamed political party of attempting to bribe two of the agency’s operatives with N14 million to help them subvert the electoral process.
The SSS Spokesperson had also angered civil society activists after she blamed the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the spate of bombings across Nigeria.
“Last week Thursday, 14th August 2014, marks a turning point in the operation, perception and integrity of Nigeria’s security agencies, with the highly controversial assertions of the loquacious Director of the State Security Service,” the anti-corruption group stated in the petition signed by Olanrewaju Suraju, its Chairman.
“In the condemnable practice of conducting intelligence operations in the public space, the SSS Director has severally exposed the agency to public opprobrium with her gaffe and politicization of serious security issues in the country. This obviously, is antithetical to the primary responsibilities of the agency.
“At a media presentation, convened to review the role of security personnels in the just concluded August 9 gubernatorial election in Osun State, Ms. Ogar ignominiously descended into the political arena with jab of several allegations against the opposition party, an act reminiscence of the country’s unethical political parties tantrum throwing,” Mr. Suraju added.
In their petition, CSNAC stated that Section 9 of the ICPC Act stipulates a seven year imprisonment for any person found guilty of bribing or attempting to bribe a public officer.
“According to Section 9 of the Act; Any person who corruptly – (a) gives, confers or procure any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public officer or to, on or for any other person; or (b) promises or offer to give, confers, procures or attempts to procure any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public officer or any other person, on account of any such act, omission, favour or disfavor to be done or shown by the public officer is guilty of an Offence of official corruption and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for seven (7) years,” the petition read.
“In the light of the above provisions in Section 9(a) and (b) above, a prima facie case of offer and inducement attempt can be established.
It is therefore the demand of this organisation that your commission, as a matter urgency, invite Ms. Marilyn Ogar for necessary interrogation, to identify the personalities behind the self-confessed bribe offer.
“Under the Act in reference, failure to report this case to an officer of the Commission or Police Offer is already an Offence; Section 23 (1) any public offer to whom any gratification is given, promised or offered in contravention of any provision of this Act, shall report such gift, promise or offer, together with the name, if known, of the person who gave, promised or offered such gratification to him to the nearest officer of the Commission or a Police Officer. (3) Any person who fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with subsection (1) and (2) shall be guilty of an Offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand Naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two (2) years or to both fine and imprisonment,”
the petition added.
- See more at: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/166983-anti-corruption-groups-want-sss-spokesperson-marilyn-ogar-interrogated-over-n14-million-bribery-allegation.html#sthash.RHacJYmK.4Zz1gVPt.dpuf

APC Threatens To Sue Ogar Over Terrorism, Bribery Allegations

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday said it would sue spokesperson of the States security Service (SSS), Marilyn Ogar, for attempting to blame the party for the series of bomb blasts in the country.

APC stated that by stating on national television that whenever the opposition party wins the election, there would be no bomb blasts, but whenever another party wins the election, there would be blasts, Ms.  Ogar  was implying that the party was responsible for terrorism in Nigeria.
SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar A press release issued by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Saturday demanded Ogar’s resignation.
“For the DSS Spokesperson to echo the same capricious statement that has been made in the past by the spokesman of the PDP shows that the agency has dropped its toga of non-partisanship and has descended into the political fray.
“If the DSS has any professional ethics, if DSS is not an arm of the PDP, then the agency must publicly dissociate itself from the irresponsible and unfounded allegation by Ogar and disengage her from the service.
“'Doing that will be the first step in restoring the credibility, or whatever is left of it, of the DSS. In the alternative, we challenge the DSS to present to Nigerians any evidence it may have to link our party to the spate of bomb blasts in the country. After all, it is trite that he who alleges must prove."
The party also commented on Ogar’s allegation that “a certain political party” believed to be APC offered the SSS N14 million as a bribe, saying institutions of state like the SSS must know that their responsibility is to the nation, and not to any political party that may be having a transient hold on power that their loyalty is to the nation, not to any individual.
“This way, the institutions will keep their integrity intact and also serve the nation properly. Irrespective of the government in power, institutions of state must stay above the fray, in line with best practices.
“This is a lesson that should not be hard for the fellows over there at the DSS to understand, going by the antecedents of their agency. However, where they choose to play politics with their professionalism and integrity, they will soon realise there are working in an agency that is not worth its salt, one that has lost the respect of the citizenry."
It saddled the National Assembly with the task of inviting Ogar's to explain if the alleged N14 million bribe was offered and who offered it.

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Osun LG Boss Arrested for Trying to Bribe Police Superintendent with N138k During Election

Executive Secretary of Atakumosa West local government area of Osun State, Mr Segun Samson and one Mr Sunday Adebayo were arrested and arraigned before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates Court, sitting in Osogbo, for allegedly attempting to bribe a policeman with N138,000 during last Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

National Mirror reported that, the the two accused persons committed the acts on August 9 at about 11am at Iwara junction, in Atakumosa West council area.

The accused persons however pleased not guilty of the the two-count charge of conspiracy, bribery and official corruption levelled against them. They were granted bail in the sum of N50, 000.00 and two sureties in like sum, who must swear to affidavit of means. The case was adjourned to September 24.

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